Russia: Nord Stream 2 is complete

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 12 Sep 2021 by Alex Teddy

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On September 10 Moscow claimed that the gas pipeline from Russia to Germany is finished. The pipeline will double Russian gas exports to the EU. The pipeline will obviate the need to send gas to the EU via Ukraine.Gazprom is the company behind the pipeline.Ukraine is worried that the pipeline will be a geopolitical weapon. If the EU irks Russia then Russia can shut off the gas. Kyiv has vowed to continue to oppose Nord Stream 2 even if it becomes operational.Moscow is jubilant. As the pipeline is now a done deal it is confident that even the opponents of the pipeline will soon fall silent. The 1 200 km pipeline goes under the Baltic Sea. It follows the same route as Nord Stream 1 which was finished 11 years ago. 55 billion cubic meters of gas can flow through Nord Stream 2 each year. The EU is able to produce less and less of its own gas. Gazprom has a USD 12 billion stake in the pipeline. Two German companies (Uniper and Wintershall), Engie (France), Shell and OMV (which is Austria) are all involved too.The chair of Nord Stream's shareholders' committee is former German Chancellor Schroder. Moscow says that the pipeline is only about business. A German think tank (DIW) said that the pipeline was not needed and that the forecast of the need for gas in the EU was majorly overestimated especially as the EU is transitioning to green energy. The project could prove to be an expensive flop. There is no doubt that gas will flow through it. But inn 10 years time will it still be used at full capacity?The biggest economy in the EU is Germany. It sources 40% of its gas from Russia. Gas is seen as a transition fuel as the EU moves to renewable energy. Biden opposed the pipeline ...